Abstract: According to one embodiment, providing a bitstream to one or more programmable devices of a service unit card includes receiving the bitstream at a snooper of the service unit card. The snooper determines whether the bitstream is current. If the bitstream is current, the bitstream is loaded onto the programmable devices. If the bitstream is not current, the received bitstream is discarded, and a substitute bitstream is identified. The substitute bitstream is loaded onto the programmable devices.

Abstract: Managing pluggable modules of a network element includes receiving an approved pluggable module list for the network element. A pluggable module is received at the network element, and a component identifier of the pluggable module is determined. If the component identifier is on the approved pluggable module list, the pluggable module is approved for operation with the network element. If the component identifier is not on the approved pluggable module list, the pluggable module is rejected for operation with the network element.

Abstract: A method for computer-based chat includes coupling a plurality of clients to at least one chat file residing in a file system. The method also includes appending a first text from at least one of the plurality of clients to the at least one chat file. In addition, the method includes updating the plurality of clients with changes made to the at least one chat file.

Abstract: Establishing a point-to-multipoint path includes establishing a first label switched path from a source to a first destination, where the first label switched path is represented by a first label set comprising first node-label pairs. A second label switched path is established from the source to a second destination, where the second label switched path is represented by a second label set comprising second node-label pairs. One or more of the second node-label pairs are equivalent to one or more of the first node-label pairs. The first label set and the second label set are combined to establish the point-to-multicast path.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, maintenance points of a maintenance entity group are identified. The maintenance points comprise end points and intermediate points. A secure connectivity association set is established for the maintenance points. The following is performed for each frame of a number of frames: determining security data of the secure connectivity association set; placing the security data into a frame; and communicating the frame to a maintenance point. The maintenance point is configured to determine whether a frame is acceptable from the security data of the frame.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes powering on a testing system, whereby a unit present signal is included in the system, the unit present signal communicating to a management complex unit (MCU) that a unit under test (UUT) has been inserted into a corresponding architecture, the signal being sent through a relay such that it can be sent or connected at a later time. The UUT is installed in the system and a programming protocol is initiated. The system is then powered off, whereby the unit present signal is set to open and the system is subsequently powered on. When the UUT is plugged in, the MCU does not see it. The system can include a second relay that allows power being fed to the UUT to be broken such that when the UUT is subsequently powered up, the board is reset and not removed from the architecture.

Abstract: A method and system for transmitting information in an optical communication system includes modulating a non-intensity characteristic of an optical carrier signal with a data signal to generate an optical information signal. The optical information signal is transmitted over an optical link. The optical information signal is amplified over a length of the optical link with a co-launched amplification signal traveling in the optical link in a same direction as the optical information signal.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method for testing a circuit includes receiving a test access session request, where the test access session request indicates that a test session is to be performed on a circuit path. A reservation message is sent to a test bus, where the reservation message reserves the test bus for the test session. The test bus includes a portion of bandwidth shared among a plurality of network elements. Traffic associated with the circuit path is copied to the test bus.

Abstract: In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a system and method for synchronizing packet forwarding information is provided. In a particular embodiment, the system includes a control processor configured to implement a control plane to generate first forwarding information and transfer the first forwarding information to an active forwarding table of a network processor. The system also includes a network processor configured to implement a forwarding plane to receive packets and use the first forwarding information in the active forwarding table to forward the received packets to one or more network devices. After the control plane is restarted, the control processor is further configured to use the restarted control plane to generate second forwarding information and incrementally update the first forwarding information in the active forwarding table with the second forwarding information while the network processor's forwarding plane continues to forward traffic.

Abstract: A system for removing connector pins from a backplane comprises at least two clamp plates and a plurality of pin plates coupled between the clamp plates, the pin plates configured to be positioned between adjacent rows of the connector pins. The system further comprises a tightening mechanism to tighten the clamp plates and the pin plates around the connector pins. In some embodiments, the system comprises a frame assembly configured to be positioned over the clamp plates, and configured to pull the clamp plates, the pin plates, and the connector pins off of the circuit board.

Abstract: A method and system for transmitting information in an optical communication system includes modulating a non-intensity characteristic of an optical carrier signal with a data signal to generate an optical information signal. The optical information signal is transmitted over an optical link. The optical information signal is amplified over a length of the optical link with a co-launched amplification signal traveling in the optical link in a same direction as the optical information signal.

Abstract: A method is provided for protecting a connection between a multi-service platform (MSP) and a local area network (LAN) that includes providing first and second LAN cards in the MSP. The first and second LAN cards are each coupled to the LAN over separate links. The method also includes providing a switch fabric. The switch fabric switches traffic having a synchronous optical network format for communication over a synchronous optical network to which the MSP is coupled. The switch fabric is coupled to the first and second LAN cards. The method further includes establishing a connection between the first and second LAN cards through the switch fabric. The method further includes establishing protection for traffic communicated between the LAN and the first LAN card by aggregating the links between the first and second LAN cards and the LAN.

Abstract: A method is provided for providing protection of a local area network (LAN) connection that includes providing first and second LAN cards in a multi-service platform. The first and second LAN cards each include at least one port. The first and second LAN cards are coupled to a network edge device through their respective ports to communicate LAN traffic. The method also includes designating the first LAN card as an active card and the second LAN card as an inactive card. The method further includes detecting a network failure associated with the first LAN card. The method further includes protecting LAN traffic communicated between the second LAN card and the LAN by designating the second LAN card as an active card and the first LAN card as an inactive card.

Abstract: A method for rejecting a request to alter a connection includes establishing a first connection with a first node and a second connection with a second node. The second connection passes through the first node and has an associated first end-to-end state. The method also includes transmitting, for relay by the first node to the second node, a first request to alter the second connection with the second node so that the second connection will have an associated second end-to-end state. The method additionally includes receiving a rejection message from the first node indicating that the first request to alter the second connection failed. The method further includes transmitting a second request to alter the second connection with the second node to ensure that the second connection is again in the associated first end-to-end state.

Abstract: A method for discovering neighboring nodes includes establishing a first optical connection with a first node using a first link. The method also includes detecting a change in the first optical connection. The method further includes initiating a discovery process to detect whether the first node or a second node is using the first link. The method additionally includes, upon detecting a second node using the first link, disabling the first optical connection and establishing a second optical connection with the second node.

Abstract: A method for providing support for multiple control channels includes establishing an indirect data connection with a first network entity in an optical network. The method also includes establishing a first control channel with the first network entity. The first control channel has at least one unique source IP address. The method additionally includes transmitting a first control message to the first network entity via the first control channel. The first control message comprises a first unique source IP address.

Abstract: A method for automatically attempting to recover equipment from a transient fault includes detecting a fault associated with the equipment in a node in a communications network, determining whether the fault associated with the equipment is transient, if the fault is transient automatically attempting to recover the equipment from the transient fault without user intervention, if the recovery attempt is successful monitoring the equipment for a pre-determined period of time to determine if the fault recurs, and if the fault recurs automatically re-attempting to recover the equipment from the fault until the fault does not recur in the pre-determined period of time or until a pre-determined number of attempts to recover the equipment have been performed.

Abstract: A method to facilitate recovery of a node in a communications network is disclosed. The method comprises receiving one or more messages from at least another node in the communications network and restoring connectivity of a recovering node based at least in part on the received messages.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a method for bandwidth allocation includes receiving at least a first traffic flow and a second traffic flow, each traffic flow including at least committed information rate (CIR) and excess information rate (EIR) parameters. The CIR parameter in each traffic flow is associated with a corresponding guaranteed pass-through rate. The first traffic flow and the second traffic flow are stored in first and second queues, respectively. The first queue is associated with a first provisioned weight, and the second queue is associated with a second provisioned weight. The method further includes scheduling downstream transmission of the first traffic flow and second traffic flow stored in the first and second queues according to at least first and second implementation weights that are determined based on a bandwidth of a downstream communication link, a CIR parameter of the first queue, a CIR parameter of the second queue, and each of the first and second provisioned weights.

Abstract: A system operable to communicate time-division multiplexed information and asynchronous transfer mode cells includes a primary rate switching fabric operable to receive a first plurality of transport signals and to switch the first plurality of transport signals at a first level, a sub-rate switching fabric operable to receive a second plurality of transport signals carrying time-division multiplexed information and to switch the second plurality of transport signals at second level that is a more granular level than the first level, and an asynchronous transfer mode switching fabric operable to receive a third plurality of transport signals carrying asynchronous transfer mode cells, and to switch asynchronous transfer mode cells among the third plurality of transport signals carrying asynchronous transfer mode cells.